It’s easy to take your home’s furnace for granted—until it stops working. If you find yourself with a unit that is sluggish or quits altogether, it may be time to replace your furnace. But isn’t that expensive? Actually, installing a new furnace can save you money. West Allis Heating & Air Conditioning shares our top three cost-saving tips for replacing your old system.
Know the Signs
How do you know if your furnace needs a repair or total replacement? If it hasn’t already stopped working, here are a few telltale signs your furnace could be nearing its retirement:
- Does your furnace make odd noises? When it runs, does it sound clunky? Is it loud when it turns on or do you hear a bang when it shuts off?
- Are you turning up the thermostat, but still unable to reach a comfortable temperature in your home?
- Have you noticed an increase in your heating bills and the amount of energy being used to heat your home?
- Is your furnace more than 15 years old?
If you’ve answered yes to more than one of these questions, it could be time for a new system.
More Efficiency Means More Savings
If you do have to replace your furnace, keep in mind today’s models offer superior efficiency. That means you will end up saving money on your monthly heating bills. For example, a furnace with 97 percent efficiency can save you around 20 percent in energy costs. In a few years, you will not only recoup the initial investment of the new furnace, but also continue to save even more money down the road. When choosing a new heating system, do your research and choose a reputable brand.
When you install a new furnace, it’s also a good time to consider adding a zoning system to your home. A zoning system divides your home into areas with separate temperature controls, so you can dial in ideal comfort based how your family uses those rooms. Automatic dampers installed directly into the ductwork allow heat (or cooling) to flow through as needed. And unlike most other manual systems, zoning from West Allis Heating’s system is electronically wired, meaning it does all the work for you. Because you can lower temps in rooms that you don’t use often, you automatically save energy and money.
Be Proactive: Schedule a Furnace Clean & Check
The best way to avoid a furnace emergency and prolong the life of your furnace is to practice proper furnace maintenance. West Allis Heating recommends scheduling a furnace Clean & Check with one of our professionals at least once a year (typically in the fall) to ensure your heating system will work properly through the winter. During a Clean & Check, our expert technicians will thoroughly clean the unit, replace air filters, lubricate parts as required, perform electrical and combustion testing, and make any necessary recommendations regarding the maintenance, repair, or replacement of your furnace unit.
A new furnace that is efficient and well maintained not only keeps you warm, but also is an investment that saves on energy, heating bills, and time spent dealing with furnace-related emergencies.
